A ministerial intern, like an intern in any other field of endeavor, is laying the foundation during the time of his internship for a life either of increasing service and success or of constant disappointment and failure.
The chief tool of the minister is his mind. And the development of his mind, or in other words his ability, depends upon his study. This may be divided into what he studies and the way he studies. An intern, then, should develop habits of study that will tend toward making his mind an efficient tool.
It is no mere coincidence that the Bible contains three books of counsel and instruction written to some who were young in the ministry, and every intern will do well to become familiar with the advice given there. The key text is this : "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Tim. 2:15. Farther on we read, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season ; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine." 2 Tim. 4:2. In order to preach the Word, one obviously must know the Word.
No one needs to be told that the Bible should form the basis of all study. Yet we are told in Testimonies to Ministers:
"There is a sad neglect of reading the Bible and searching it with humble hearts for yourselves. Take no man's explanation of Scripture, whatever his position, but go to the Bible and search for the truth yourselves. . . . There is the mine of truth. Sink the shaft deep, and you will possess that knowledge which is of the highest value to you. Many have become lazy and criminally neglectful in regard to the searching of the Scriptures, and they are as destitute of the Spirit of God as of the knowledge of His Word."—Page 155.
Then in Gospel Workers we read:
"Ministers who would labor effectively for the salvation of souls must be both Bible students and men of prayer. . . . If God's Word were studied as it should be, men would have a breadth of mind, a nobility of character, and a stability of purpose that are rarely seen in these times."—Page 249.
What a challenge this presents to every intern who desires to see his life count for Christ. Again we read:
"The cause of God calls for all-round men, who can devise, plan, build up, and organize. And those who appreciate the probabilities and possibilities of the work for this time, will seek by earnest study to obtain all the knowledge they can from the Word, to use in ministering to needy, sin-sick souls."—Ibid., p. 94. (See also Testimonies, Vol. IV, p. 260.)
"Ministers should become Bible students. Are the truths which they handle mighty? Then they should seek to handle them skillfully. Their ideas should be clear and strong, and their spirits fervent, or they will weaken the force of the truth which they handle . . . A great work must be accomplished for ministers, in order for them to make the preaching of the truth a success. The Word of God should be thoroughly studied. All other reading is inferior to this."—Testimonies, Vol. II, pp. 337, 338.
This puts the Bible first, with all other reading and study subordinate to it. Men who stand out as great in the work of God are men who live close to God through studying His Word. Every intern should learn to make God's Word first in his life.
Next to the Bible we have the writings of the Spirit of prophecy. A good study habit to form is that of systematically reading these books. The counsel given there can but give one a more earnest desire to follow Jesus—the master Pattern of every intern—and to learn His methods. There are also other books with which an intern should become familiar, such as history reference books and the Ministerial Reading Course books.
Then there is the field of current reading material. Usually more time is spent in this than is necessary or profitable. Newspapers and news magazines should be read with definite aims in view. Scanning of headlines will usually give us an idea of what will be worth our time. Reading with a red pencil or scissors in hand will also save time wasted in rereading a paper to find some clipping we wanted.
Our own denominational periodicals should be included in an intern's reading. Among these we might mention THE MINISTRY as a "must" each month. Thus we learn of the experiences and methods of others, can profit by them, and keep in touch with the progress of our message in all the world.
Changing Ordinary Men Into Success
The practical aim of all study is, of course, to produce Bible studies and sermons filled with the love of God, that will transform lives by the Holy Spirit's aid. U. S. Brown, in the book If the Minister Is to Succeed, gives this thought • "Wide general reading, plus regular habits of intensive Bible study, plus continuous study of people and their needs, plus meditation and earnest prayer, have changed many ordinary men into successful ministers of the gospel of Christ—made them specialists in spiritual therapeutics."
Every intern should seek to develop an efficient system of filing sermon notes and material. When reading, we should jot down thoughts or ideas that come to mind, and file them under the proper heading. With a little practice we shall find sermons growing and ripening in our files.
Thus even after preparing and using a sermon, as our thoughts return to it, we shall discover new illustrations, new approaches, new appeals, and new and different titles. And even if we use the same framework the next time, it will not be a "rewarmed" or "rehashed" sermon, but will be fresh and vibrant with life to us and to those who listen. Besides all the knowledge we can gain, there is yet other preparation that is essential. We are told in Gospel Workers:
"Let those who are in training for the ministry never forget that the preparation of the heart is of all the most important. No amount of mental culture or theological training can take the place of this. The bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness must shine into the heart of the worker and purify his life, before light from the throne of God can shine through him to those in darkness." —Page 94.
